Auto director



sept. 1s, 1945.l

A. -c. scl-luLzEV 2,385,164

AUTO DIRECTOR Filed March 27, 1944 V rra/iwf rs.

Patented Sept. 18, 1945 UNITED y'STATES PATENT OFF IC E .AUTO DIRECTGR Albert L'Schiilrze, Riverside, Iowa ApplcationMarl-,h 27, 1944, Serial `No. I528,296

1 Claim.

vmovement may be imparted to a signal, transversely of the vehicle.

Another objectof the invention is so to arrange and proportion the handle which constitutes an operating mechanism for the device, that it will be convenient to a person .handling a `steering wheel, there being no interference, however, either with the operation `of the h-andle-orwith the rotationof the steering wheel.

A further object of the invention 'is to `supply novel means vfor supporting the main shaft by which motion is imparted from a handle to a transversely swinging signal.

A further object of the invention is to supply a secure support for working parts, portions of the support having a double function.

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the present invention appertains.

/With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of oonstruction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a cross section showing a portion of an automobile in which the device forming the subject matter of this application has been incorporated, most parts of the device per se appearing in rear elevation;

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section taken through a portion of an automobile equipped with the device forming the subject matter of this application, the device being shown in side elevation.

In the drawing there is shown a dashboard I of an automobile, the hood appearing at 2 and the windshield frame being shown at 3, the dashboard I extending upwardly to thewindshield frame, the windshield frame carrying the usual transparent plate 4.

A corner post is shown at 5. An instrument one, that the device 'forming the subject matter of this application is adapted to be used.

The numeral 9 designates a substantially horizontal shelf which extends rearwardly `from the dashboard I, the shelf being engaged under the llower edge of jthe windshield frame 3. The shelf `9 is secured to the post v5, to the 'loweredge of the windshield lframe `3 `and to the dashboard I.

The shelf B extends inwardly toward the longitudinal, median verticalpla-ne of the automobile. VAt Il) there appears a substantially vvertical standard, provided at its lower end with a laterally projecting foot lI I, which is attached by a securing element `I2 -to the .shelf "9. At its upperend, the standard I0 is supplied with an outwardly extended, substantially horizontal arm I4, which overlaps the rear surface of the post 5, the arm being fastened to the post by a securing element I5. Intermediate its ends, the standard III is provided with an inwardly projecting bearing bracket IS.

A substantial horizontal shaft II is journaled in the bearing bracket I6 and in the lower part of the windshield frame 3 and extends lengthwise of the vehicle. A beveled pinion I8 is secured to the shaft I 'I and rotates within the bracket IS, the shaft .I'I thus being held against longitudinal movement.

The beveled pinion I8 meshes with a beveled gear I9, held for rotation on a stub shaft 20, disposed at right angles to the shaft I'I and is secured to the standard I 0. The forward end of a rearwardly projecting handle 2l is mounted to swing on the stub shaft 20, the handle being secured to the beveled gear I9 by an attaching element 22.

A signal 23 is provided and is located forwardly of the windshield frame 3. The signal 23 comprises an angular arm 24 having, at its outer end, a, conventionalized human hand 25 or other device calculated to attract attention. At its inner end, the arm 24 carries a hub 26, which is attached to the forwardly extended part of the shaft II by a set screw 2l or equivalent device.

Grossly considered, the operation of the device is as follows:

Assuming that the hand 25 is in the depending, inoperative position of Fig. 1, the handle 2| rests on the shelf 9, the shelf thus serving as a stop for the handle. the standard I0 and its arm I4 constituting an overhead brace or hanger, which aids in supporting the shelf 9, to the rear of the post 5.

When the handle 2| is raised by an operator from the solid line position of Fig. 2 to the dotted line position of that figure, the beveled gear I9 is rotated, rotation being imparted to the beveled pinion I8 and to the shaft I1, an elevation of the hand 25 from the solid line position of Fig. 1 to the dotted line position of that figure, the driver of a car overhauling or approaching the one shown in the drawing being given monition that the car carrying the signal is about to make a turn. By swinging the handle 2| upwardly and downwardly, a vertical'oscillatory movement is imparted to the hand 25 and this may be taken as an indication that the vehicle carrying the signal is about to stop. The information conveyed by the movement of the hand 25 may be xed by regulation, custom or generalaccent.

. It is to be noted that the rear end of the handle 2 Imoves in a limited arc, vertically,4 in close relation to the left hand side of the steering wheel 8, looking toward the front. The grip portion of the handle 2l always is readily accessible to the left hand of a person at the steering wheel 8.

i The length of the handle 2i, measured from the axis of the stubshaft 20 is such that the rear end of the handle is spaced forwardly from the steering wheel 8, and the rear end of the handle Yat no time projects rearwardly with respect to the steering wheel, a condition which would interfere lrst with the rotation of the steering wheel and with the vertical movement of the handle.

The device forming the subject matter of this application is `simple in construction, but it will be found thoroughly advantageous for the ends in view and hereinbefore pointed out.

The handle 2| has a vertical swinging movement, which is convenient and desirable, and at the same time it is possible to impart rotation to the shaft I'I by the simple, inexpensive and substantial mechanism represented by the gear wheel I9 and the pinion I8.

The automobile body may be said to include the post 5 and adjacent parts. The shaft 9 is useful in supporting small articles. The handle 2! has its rear end disposed in front of the steering wheel 8, in approximate horizontal alinement with the lowermost portion of the wheel and in approximate vertical alinement with one outermost side portion of thewheel.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

A vehicle comprising a body and a windshield, a shelf having its forward end secured to the body in close relation to the windshield, the rear end of the shelf being free, a standard having its lower end secured to a portion of the shelf intermediate its ends and provided rat its upper end with an outwardly extending arm secured to the body, the standard and the arm constituting a hanger for the shelf, a longitudinal shaft supported for rotation on the standard and extended forwardly with respect to the windshield, a handle extended rearwardly and longitudinally of the vehicle and mounted for vertical swinging movement on the standard, means for imparting rotation to the shaft from the handle, and a signal secured to the forwardly extended portion of the shaft and operating transversely of the vehicle, the rear portion of the shelf forming a stop which the handle engages when the signal is in inopera tive position.

ALBERT C. SCHULZE.' 

